The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-18
A STRANGE RACE.
Outlaws Dwelling on the Bor-
ders Of the Bennewater
Lakes.
Their Origin Unknown-Queer Habits and
Oustoms-Scenes at Their Mid
night Orgies

About three. miles west of Kingston
commences chain of five lakes known
as the ''Bennewaters. the largest being
about one mile long and three-quarters
of mile broad The scenery is of
wild and romantic character, and, as
the lakes are we'll stocked with fish, it
has long been favorite resort OF ang-
lers rs well as tourists. For between
one and two hundred years curious
tribe of people has dwelt upon the bor-
ders of the lakes. Though they possess
certain patronym they are not known
by them, but are described under the
general term of the "Bennewaters. "
No prescribed caste in India was ever
more thoroughly set apart from its fell
lows than are these people. Whence
or why they came has often been made
matter of surprise, but has never adj
vanced beyond speculation. In APP
pearancc they convey the impression OF
being descended from the red man, hay
ing in the majority of cases the high
chcek-bones, black hair and swarthy
skin which are characteristic OF his
race. They are, moreover. never met
in groups abreast, but always walk in
Indian file, and in this order may be
met any day walking to and from their
homes to Kingston. AS opposed to
this theory, however, it may be men
toned that in no case do their names
betray Indian origin. They have been
so long isolated that, though they UNI
doubleday possess certain points OF re-
scmblance in common, they would
hardly be claimed even as remote kim
bred to any known tribe of Indians.
In some respects they more nearly re-
semble the gypsies, though they are
not so nomadc, and many incline to
the belief that they are descendants of
some foreign gypsy tribe.
TOO LAZY TO WORK.
Like Indians and gypsies they show a
decp-rooted and incrad cable distase for
active labor, and it is probable that the
comparative ease with VIII oh life can be
sustained in the neighborhood of good
fishing ground first attracted them to
the Bennewater Lakes. They never ac-
quiro property, and possess no animals
except certain wolfsh-looking dogs. 1t
is rare to see "Bennewater" unat-
tended by one of these illfed and hun
gry-looking beasts. Unlike the Indians,
they have no taste for fighting, and
during the late war were notorious
bounty jumpers" deserving almost
without exception rs soon as they re-
ceived the bounty This region and the
Shawangunk Mountains became in con-
sequence vertable city of refuge for
deserters and other criminals, and raids
were perpetually made at that time by
the authorities on the "Bennewaters, ="
who. it was well known, freely offered
sanctuary TO all offenders against the
law, even when not of their race. IL
will be remembered that on the occa-
sion of the abduct on of Charley Ross,
in consequence of its being believed
that he had been taken across the river
ut Rondout at midnight in small boat,
the whole district of the Bennewater
Lakes was submitted TO thorough
search by Pinkerton's detectives, in the
belief that the stolen child would be
found secreted with these people. AL
though the search, so far as Charley
Ross was concerned, proved fruitless,
evidences which led to the calculation
of other mysterious crimes were discov-
cred.
FOND OF DRINKING.
Though not communicative to stran-
gers, they are not surly. neither arc
they quarrelsome, except when they
yield to the r craving for drink. In
summer they devote themselves to ber-
r, gathering and the supplying Of bait
10 the anglers who visit the lakes.
Their knowledge of the arts and in
dustrics is extremely mited, beng con-
fined TO the making of coarse baskets
and mats OF straw and corn-husks.
which they peddle in this city and the
neighborhood with an importantly that
is only equaled BY their persistency in
begging. Certain rude attempts are
ccas.onall; made at wood carving.